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To assess the issue of the frequency and severity of adhesion reformation and de novo adhesion formation after operative laparoscopy, this multicenter collaborative report of early second-look procedures after operative laparoscopy was initiated. Sixty-eight subjects underwent operative laparoscopic procedures including adhesiolysis, followed by a second operative procedure within 90 days. The total mean adhesion score decreased from 11.4 +/- 0.7 at the initial operative procedure to 5.5 +/- 0.4 at the second-look procedure, a decrease of 52%. At the time of the second-look procedure, 66 of 68 women (97.1%) had pelvic adhesions. Adhesion reformation occurred in 66 of 68 women and at 230 of 351 sites (66%) at which adhesions were lysed. Despite this high incidence of adhesion reformation, de novo adhesion formation after operative laparoscopy occurred in only 8 of 68 women (12%) and at 11 of 47 available sites in these 8 women. We conclude that adhesion reformation is a frequent occurrence after operative laparoscopy; however de novo adhesion formation appears to occur much less frequently.
Results from ovulation induction and laparoscopic oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer were compared in two groups of patients to determine whether oocyte retrieval subsequent to diagnostic laparoscopy had specific advantages over combined screening laparoscopy and timed follicle aspiration. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the factors investigated in the two groups. This study was useful in demonstrating firstly that there are no absolute criteria for selection of patients for either diagnostic or combination laparoscopy. Secondly, the procedure of choice is a combined screening laparoscopy and timed follicle aspiration if a patient is willing to accept a failure rate of 7.4% (2/27 in this study) due to ovarian inaccessibility.
Cardiac arrhythmias are a common complication of laparoscopy. Brady-arrhythmias (including asystole) may be life-threatening. The recent introduction of new shorter-acting muscle relaxants (atracurium and vecuronium), with their lack of vagolytic activity, may exacerbate this situation. At the Royal Women's Hospital there have been several episodes of severe bradyarrhythmias and/or asystole associated with these relaxants. This study evaluated heart rate changes in 49 women during laparoscopy: 47% of patients had arrhythmias, 30% of these being bradyarrhythmias. Nearly all the episodes occurred during carbon dioxide insufflation or with traction on pelvic structures. The life-threatening nature of this phenomenon should be understood by all anaesthetists and gynaecologists engaged in laparoscopic procedures.
In a French national enquiry into 50,000 laparoscopies it emerges that the number of cardiac arrests works out at 1 in 2,000. The percentage of reversible cardiac arrests was 1 in 2500 and of irreversible cardiac arrests 1.2 in 10,000. 25 cases were studied in great detail, both clinically and physiopathologically. This was thanks to a very full questionnaire most kindly filled up by those who had told us that this type of accident had happened in their practice. The physiopathogenesis of circulatory arrests during laparoscopy is complex. It appears however that among the different potentiating factors are changes in haemodynamics and biological changes that give rise to the greatest risks. Experimental work carried out with a long-tailed baboon was performed by the authors with the idea on the one hand of confirming that haemodynamic and biological troubles resulting from the pneumoperitoneum were important and on the other hand of analysing the changes in detail and of working out prophylactic principles for the anaesthetist and the laparoscopist.
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In a series of 7,604 laparoscopic procedures, the authors report one death and a rate of 2.76 per thousand (21 cases) for complications requiring laparotomy. When exclusively diagnostic laparoscopic procedures are considered (1,191 cases) this rate drops to 1.67 per thousand. The likelihood of laparotomy being required is directly related to the degree of importance of the laparoscopic surgical procedure. For major laparoscopic surgery the rate of laparotomy is 4.46 per thousand (18 cases), whereas it is only 0.42 per thousand (1 case) for minor laparoscopic surgery (p less than 0.01). Intestinal injuries represent 52.4% (11 out of 21) of cases requiring laparotomy. The main problem with this type of accident is to recognize them, because in almost half the cases (42.8%; 3 out of 7) the intestinal injury went unseen during the laparoscopic procedure and gave rise to peritonitis. Vascular complications are less frequent and required laparotomy in only 8 cases (38%; 8 out of 21). This low level of complications is yet further proof that laparoscopic surgery is a reliable technique and does not involve a high risk of laparotomy, provided that the surgeon has received specific training.
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In 81 women's hospital, in which 35,013 gynaecological laparoscopies were made, 42.9% of the specialists are able to perform laparoscopies by themselves. 51.9% of the questioned hospital directors recommend learning how to perform laparoscopies during specialization, and 48.1% plead for laparoscopy training only for gynaecologic specialists. 64.2% of the questioned ones were in favour of laparoscopy courses. Performance of diagnostic laparoscopies was recommended for all gynaecological institutions by 82.7%. In the opinion of the majority (74.8%) operative laparoscopies should be done only in larger central hospitals. It was generally agreed that chronic diseases of the lower abdomen, sterility and suspected ectopic pregnancy are indications for laparoscopy. Other acute complaints have been diagnosed less frequently by means of laparoscopy. Second-look-laparoscopies were made by 59.3% and 55.6% of the questioned doctors, mainly for checking the situation operations because of ovarian cancer and sterility. In 61.1% of all hospitals other diagnostic and therapeutic operations per laparoscopiam are done. The rate of severe complications was 0.21%, and the mortality rate amounted to 0.057%.
Thirty-nine hemodynamically stable trauma patients were evaluated prospectively by laparoscopy before planned celiotomy. Laparoscopy was performed using a forward-viewing laparoscope connected to two high-resolution video monitors. The mechanism of injury was blunt trauma in eight, stab wounds (SWs) in 16, and gunshot wounds (GSWs) in 15. Laparoscopy correctly identified the presence of an intraperitoneal injury in 26 patients. Six other patients had retroperitoneal injuries, five of which were seen on laparoscopy. The remaining seven patients had no demonstrable intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal injuries, did not undergo celiotomy, and were observed without morbidity. In comparison with findings at surgery, laparoscopy identified injuries to the liver in eight of ten, to the diaphragm in three of three, to the colon in two of three, to the stomach in three of three, to the kidney in one of one, to the spleen in none of three, and to the small bowel in none of four patients. Visualization of the spleen was achieved in only one patient. The extent of the hemoperitoneum was underestimated from the laparoscopic examination in all nine patients with greater than 750 mL of peritoneal blood, four of whom had undetected active bleeding. Laparoscopy was performed easily in all patients and there were no complications associated with its use. In conclusion, the absence of an intra-abdominal injury was correctly identified with laparoscopy in 11 patients and laparoscopy may decrease the need for celiotomy in selected patients. However, the inability to "run the small bowel," visualize the spleen, and evaluate hemorrhage limits the utility of laparoscopy in determining which patients with laparoscopically visualized injuries will require celiotomy.
Lasers are but one of the several energy delivery systems used by the operative laparoscopist in the performance of advanced operative laparoscopy. Safety is a key factor in the selection of a laser because the tissue damage produced by this instrument is absolutely predictable. The surgeon must be totally familiar with the chosen wavelength and its tissue reaction if this safety factor is to be realized. Other instruments complement the use of lasers in advanced operative laparoscopy, and without thorough knowledge of all available techniques and instruments, the operative laparoscopist will not achieve the full potential of this specialty. It is beyond the scope of this issue on gynecologic laser surgery to present all of the useful nonlaser techniques. Suffice it to say that we often use laser, loop ligature, sutures, hemoclips, bipolar electricity, hydrodissection, and endocoagulation during the course of a day in the operating room and sometimes during one case. As enthusiasm for advanced operative laparoscopy grows and endoscopic capability increases, more complicated and prolonged surgical feats are reported. Radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy have been performed by the laparoscopic route, and endoscopic management of ovarian tumors also has been reported. At this moment, these must be viewed as "show and tell" procedures unsupported by statistics to demonstrate any advantage (or disadvantage) when compared with conventional surgical methods. The time required of advanced operative laparoscopy for any given procedure is certainly an important factor. Prolonged operative and anesthesia time certainly can negate the supposed benefit of small incisions and minimally invasive surgery. What goes on inside the abdomen is certainly the most important part of advanced operative laparoscopy. Good surgeons must recognize their own limitations and the limitations of available technology. The operative laparoscopist must know when to quit and institute a laparotomy. In general, when the magnitude of the operative laparoscopy greatly increases the time required to perform the surgery or exceeds the capability of the surgeon, laparotomy is necessary. Patients should never be promised that an operation will be done by laparoscopy. In advanced operative laparoscopy, informed consent means that the patient has had a reasonable explanation of the method, its benefits and its dangers, and has also been told that laparotomy is always a possibility. In our large series, the laparotomy rate is about 3%. It is also wise not to promise the patient that advanced operative laparoscopy will be done by the laser.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The ability to improve surgical decision-making in the acute abdomen using selective laparoscopy is now established. When the decision to operate is uncertain laparoscopy not only identifies those patients who do not require laparotomy, but also reveals those who need surgery which might otherwise have been delayed. Furthermore, the high error rates in diagnosing acute appendicitis in young women provides overwhelming support to the current view that all women with suspected appendicitis should undergo laparoscopy before appendicectomy, irrespective of clinical 'certainty'. Improvements in the management of the acute abdomen can also be achieved by other techniques such as computer-assisted diagnosis (McAdam et al, 1990) and peritoneal cytology (Stewart et al, 1988), and a combination of these with selective laparotomy would be appropriate. Initial patient assessment using a structured proforma would appear to be one of the most significant factors in the improvement of diagnostic accuracy associated with the use of computers (Gunn, 1976), and their combination with a policy of selective laparoscopy has been shown to be beneficial (Paterson-Brown et al, 1989). The ability to detect which patients are likely to benefit from laparoscopy by performing peritoneal cytology first (Vipond et al, 1990) has been shown to be helpful in reducing the number of patients who undergo a 'negative laparoscopy' (Baigrie et al, 1990). It is now time for laparoscopy to return to the bosom of general surgery from where it was conceived almost a century ago. When it does, as the developments in laparoscopic cholecystectomy would predict it will, so surgeons in training must take the earliest opportunity to become as familiar and proficient with the technique as their gynaecological colleagues have done, even if this means attending the gynaecological operating lists to do so. It is only then that the undoubted benefits of laparoscopy will be spread more widely in general surgery and particularly for the patient with acute abdominal pain.
Fifty-three patients with suspected gallbladder carcinoma underwent ultrasonography and laparoscopy. Laparoscopy correctly excluded malignancy in five patients when ultrasonography had suggested gallbladder neoplasia. Of 48 patients with gallbladder carcinoma, laparoscopy identified 46 (95.8%) as compared with 30 (62.5%) by ultrasonography (p less than 0.001). Distant metastases in the liver, parietal peritoneum, or omentum were present in 41 patients (85.4%) and were detected by laparoscopy in 39 (sensitivity 95%) and by ultrasonography in 21 (sensitivity 51.2%) (p less than 0.001). Combination of ultrasonography and laparoscopy improved the overall diagnostic accuracy to 100%. Laparoscopy provided histological diagnosis of the disease in 36 patients (75%) and circumvented unnecessary laparotomy in 40 (83.3%) patients by revealing advanced or associated disease. When laparoscopy suggested that the disease was localized, the diagnosis was correct in 83.3% (5 of 6) patients. Laparoscopy under local anesthesia is useful in the diagnosis and staging of gallbladder carcinoma, and therefore helpful in planning management.
OBJECTIVE: To compare outpatient laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy with standard outpatient vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: Fifty-six women scheduled for vaginal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to undergo either a laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy with endoscopic staples (N = 29) or a standard vaginal hysterectomy (N = 27). There were no differences between the study groups with regard to age, gravidity, parity, preoperative indications, and previous operations. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 29 laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomies and all 27 vaginal hysterectomies were completed without incident. When indicated, unilateral or bilateral oophorectomies were completed. The mean operating time was significantly longer for laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (120.1 versus 64.7 minutes). Fifty-three of the 55 patients completing surgery were discharged home by 12 hours from the time of admission. Complications with laparoscopic hysterectomy were related to the technical aspects of laparoscopy. The incidence of febrile morbidity was similar in the groups. Although patients having laparoscopy-assisted hysterectomy required statistically significantly more pain medication and had lower postoperative hematocrit measurements, this did not make a clinical difference in the postoperative courses. The mean hospital charge for laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy was $7905 and for vaginal hysterectomy $4891. CONCLUSION: Other than cost, laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and standard vaginal hysterectomy appear comparable in patients who could otherwise undergo a vaginal hysterectomy.
Removal of a normal appendix because of suspected appendicitis occurs most frequently in women of reproductive age. We investigated the value of laparoscopy in the diagnostic evaluation for possible appendicitis in women of childbearing age. Fifty-one women were entered in a management protocol, which included diagnostic laparoscopy in instances with atypical features. Twenty patients underwent immediate appendectomy because of history and physical findings classical for appendicitis; 31 women with atypical history and physical findings underwent an initial diagnostic laparoscopy. In the group of patients who underwent immediate appendectomy because of classical presentation, five of the appendices removed were normal. At laparoscopy, appendicitis was diagnosed in five patients, another disease in 15 and no diagnostic abnormality was found in six. Five patients had a normal appendix removed, two because of questionable inflammation and three because of nonvisualization of the appendix. There were no false-negative examination results. Twenty-one patients required no further operative intervention after laparoscopy. The negative appendectomy rate remained unchanged (ten negative appendectomies of 30 performed). Definitive diagnoses of eight instances of pelvic inflammatory disease, six of ruptured ovarian cysts and one instance of ileitis of the small intestine were made earlier than would have been possible without diagnostic laparoscopy in this setting. Diagnostic laparoscopy permits earlier definitive diagnosis and prompt institution of appropriate therapy for disease of the female reproductive tract that simulates appendicitis. Caution is advised, however, when diagnostic laparoscopy is applied more frequently than right lower quadrant exploration in the management of probable appendicitis. The improvement in diagnostic accuracy may be offset by an increased number of negative appendectomies resulting from nonvisualization and false-positive inflammation.
Impalpable testes constitute approximately 20% of most series of undescended testes. From January 1986 to March 1991, we performed laparoscopies on 53 patients with impalpable testes. Thirty-two of them were found to have normal vasa and vessels entering each internal ring on the side in question. Of these, 14 were found to have "vanishing testes" at exploration, 12 others underwent successful orchiopexy, and the remaining 6 had excisional biopsies of fibrotic testicular remnants. Five patients had no visible vessels and a sixth had a blind-ending vas and vessels adjacent to the internal ring; in these cases no further investigations were deemed necessary. Fifteen patients were found to have abdominal testes and underwent high testicular vessel ligation and division at the time of the laparoscopy; 14 of them have undergone staged orchiopexy 6 months after laparoscopy and one is scheduled for this procedure. A 3-month follow-up of those who had orchiopexy showed excellent results in 10 patients and poor results in 3, all of whom had small testes that were unimproved or worse following vessel ligation. Four boys were spared operations as a result of findings at laparoscopy. Early in the series there was one failed laparoscopy, but it was successfully completed later. the procedure, but it was successfully treated with antibiotics. There were no other complications. Laparoscopy is a safe procedure that allows accurate diagnosis and may prevent additional intervention in the treatment of the absent testes. It facilitates the locating of the impalpable testis and the planning and timing of subsequent orchiopexy. We believe that laparoscopy is the preferred procedure in the management of impalpable testes.